THE EFFECT OF LONG EXPOSURE TO LOW TEMPERATURES ON THE COLD HARDINESS OF SPROUTING WHEAT IN THE DARK

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Abstract
Nine cultivars of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ranging from very cold hardy to tender were sprouted in vermiculite at 0.5–1.0 °C for 7 wk in the dark and then placed at 0.5 °C, −2.5 °C, −5 °C, −7.5 °C, or −10 °C for up to 20 wk. Plants held at 0.5 °C progressively lost hardiness. Little change occurred in the hardiness of plants moved to −2.5 °C. There was apparently a small initial increase in hardiness after transfer to −5 °C or −7.5 °C followed by a decline in hardiness. Plants transferred to −10 °C lost hardiness progressively after transfer. These results suggest that part of the reason for late-winter mortality of winter wheats in northern regions of the Canadian prairies is damage from long exposures to temperatures only slightly lower than −5 °C. This damage is manifested by higher LT50 values or lower cold hardiness in late winter and early spring.Key words: Triticum aestivum L., cold hardiness, winter survival

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